Building a forwarding trailer

[Spalted Dog]

 

  

  

 

She's Alive! 

The crane had a lot more issues than expected once I looked close.  All rebuilt motors, all new solenoids, wires.  Luckily the mechanicals seem to be ok.  I have a couple of hyd leaks to fix, but all in all it functions ok.

I brought in 6-7 loads of walnut culls with about a mile commute there were no issues with the trailer.  There were a few bugs to deal with in the crane, but were minor.  I still need to clean up and paint once I am done with testing and I am building a brush guard for the head  and a cover to keep the rain off.

The tractor seems to handle a load ok.  It could use a bit more power, but in the working gears it handles fine.  It pulls a full load better than skidding some larger logs and will be faster than skidding alone.  I have timed it a few times, but there are so many vaiables, If the logs are in a field and a bit spread out it takes about an hour to fill and about 1/2 hour to unload.  Not bad considering all the extra handling skidding and piling with a grapple, not great considering a knuckle boom would probably take 1/4 of that.  I am not usually in a huge rush anyway.  My business is built off being careful.

To move from one pile to another I raise the 3 pt and drive to the next batch.  The jacks are spring loaded so it is pull a pin and let them come up.  I can crank them all the way up by hand.  The crane cradle swings out of the way so that you can load higher.

All in all I am happy with it. I don't have anywhere near what a new one would be and I think it will work great for what I am doing.  I did design it so that Ican put another hydraulic crane on it in the future if I find the right one.  I will have to cut some. but there will be room.

[thecfarm]

It's alive and looking good. I'm glad it all worked out for you. It does look useful and than some.

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Looks good to me and it works as you hoped, sounds like a win!

[Ironwood]

Looks GREAT, nice job, and considering you did complain about the selenoids and wiring you must be a pretty good mechanic, it is TIGHT inside those compartments. I alway cuss a few times trying to get it all hooked back up.
Ironwood

[treefarmer87]

GOOD JOB

[Spalted Dog]

Thanks guys,

I picked up 3 more loads yesterday.  Its starting to look like a processor build will be in order sometime in my future.  I figure about 12 cord of firewood that was just in 2 fields,  there are about 130 tops still in the woods as well as another landing in the woods, not to mention all the dead oak, elm, and others.

There is some pretty nice stuff in the pile.  I sure wish I had a sawmill.

I have turned a few wrenches over the years.  I have a unique and diverse work history.

So many projects and so little money.